34 Days: A gripping psychological thriller with a killer twist

by Anita Waller

  It was with some trepidation Anna returned to Lindum Lodge. It was a hot day, and she drove with the window down, Michael following in his own car until the point he left her as he returned to his own home.

  She had two last pieces of paperwork to sign for the transfer of the business, and it would be over. Ray would be out of her life permanently. The house and front garden looked very different.

  She pulled her car on to the new parking area and wondered why Ray hadn’t thought of doing this. It looked very white and clean in the bright sunlight, and she paused to look around when she got out of the car.

  Adam and Grace ran out of the front door, waving excitedly.

  ‘Nan! We thought you’d never get here!’

  She smiled at them and opened her arms to hug them before planting kisses on their heads.

  ‘I’ve missed you two guys,’ she said, and buried her nose in their hair to drink in their smell.

  ‘Mum says come through to the kitchen,’ Adam said. ‘She’s put coffee on, and we’ve made you some cupcakes.’

  Anna laughed. All this had been denied to her for far too long. Now she could really get to know these two precious grandchildren. She followed them through to the kitchen, listen to their excited chatter about the baking they had done.

  Jenny turned to her with a smile. ‘Hello, mother-in-law. I’ve missed you.’

  ‘Hello, daughter-in-law. I’ve missed you, too.’

  They moved together and held each other tightly for some time. Anna felt tears prick her eyes, and she moved to sit at the large kitchen table.

  ‘This is nice,’ she said, running her hands along the surface.

  ‘We’ve splashed out a bit. We decided to go for a big table, because the children can do their homework here. We eat at night in the dining room, but all other meals are in here. The house has changed a bit.’

  Adam put a cake stand on the table and turned it around so that an extra-large cupcake was facing his Nan.

  ‘We made that one especially for you, Nan,’ he said. ‘Mum said you like strawberries.’

  Grace placed four small plates by the side of the cake stand and then handed one to Anna.

  Anna reached across and took the cake. It was spectacular. Frosted icing decorated the top in swirls of calories, and it was all crowned with sliced pieces of strawberry.

  She put it on her plate and admired it. ‘I don’t quite know what to say. It’s huge.’

  Grace solemnly handed her a fork. ‘You might need that.’

  ‘I might need a spade,’ she laughed.

  Once the children had watched her successfully eat it, they asked if they could go in the garden.

  ‘Yes,’ Jenny said. ‘Try not to get as scruffy as you did yesterday.’

  Anna raised an eyebrow in query. ‘We’ve given a part of the garden to them, a plot each. You wouldn’t believe the competition that’s created. Grace is turning hers into a fairy garden; it’s costing me a fortune. I have to keep buying fairies and little bridges and suchlike for her. Adam is growing vegetables and a rose bush. Just one rose bush. It’s for his granddad, he says…’ Her voice trailed away.

  ‘He’s growing up so fast. He’s almost as tall as me.’ Anna smiled. ‘And let him remember Ray. Every child needs grandparents. That’s part of the price we have to pay for what happened.’

  ‘And you still have my letters?’

  ‘Of course. That’s something I want to talk about. I am going to be moving shortly. The apartment next door to Lissy and Jon has come on the market. It’s the same as their apartment, with the opposite configuration. I’ve put in an offer before I left this morning, and I’m waiting to hear back from them. I might have to increase it a bit, because I offered £5,000 less than the asking price, but that was just testing the waters really. Even if I have to pay the full amount, I want it. It’s so spacious, newly decorated, it’s lovely.’

  ‘Wow! I’m so pleased for you. A proper new start then.’

  ‘It also has a built-in wall safe, so your letters will go in there. I will be giving you a key to the apartment and the safe combination, as soon as I’ve set it up. If anything happens to me, you get there as soon as possible and get your hands on those letters.’

  Jenny looked stunned.

  ‘You’re not ill?’

  ‘No, not at all. It’s just I’m now likely to be travelling more than I’ve ever done. It would only take one bad road accident, and it would all be over. In fact, it wouldn’t necessarily have to be my death; I could have a stroke, or a heart attack. I just need to make sure you can get those letters before anyone else does. I’m quite settled in my mind to being the custodian, but anything can go wrong.’

  The kitchen door burst open, and Grace appeared, her face glowing. ‘Look at the size of this, Mummy!’ She held out her hand and deposited a huge earthworm on the kitchen table.

  Jenny stared at it in horror and looked at Anna, who was grinning.

  ‘Shall I see to this?’ Anna said, picking up the earthworm and carefully carrying it back outside, followed by Grace.

  ‘I don’t think Mummy likes worms on her kitchen table,’ Anna confided in a hushed tone to Grace.

  ‘Not like worms? Why?’ The tone of her voice suggested it was an outrageous thought someone wouldn’t like worms.

  ‘Maybe it’s because you eat at that table, and she doesn’t want germs on it,’ Anna said. ‘Perhaps worms should stay where they’re happiest, in your fairy garden. Shall we put it back there?’

  Grace nodded. ‘Yes, ok. Come and see the fairies, Nan.’

  And that’s where Anna was when the estate agent rang to say if she upped her offer by £3,000, the apartment was hers. She did.

  Mark came home for lunch, and they formalised the transfer at the solicitor’s office. Anna returned to Lindum Lodge, said her goodbyes after promising to visit every week until the children returned to school after the summer holidays, and set off with a wave.

  Ray really was gone now.

  *****

  Anna pulled up around the corner and entered Michael’s postcode into her satnav. She had never been to his home before, and was feeling quite nervous about it. She was there within ten minutes, and he came out with a welcoming smile on his face.

  ‘Is everything settled?’

  She nodded. ‘It is. And I’ve got the other apartment as well, so it’s been a good day.’

  ‘Then we must celebrate.’ Michael led her into his home, and the feeling of comfort overwhelmed her. He clearly loved old furniture, and his huge sofa and chairs beckoned enticingly. The furniture surrounding her was obviously antique, and it gleamed in various corners of the large room. She wanted to run her hands along it, take in the ambience the beautiful items created.

  Anna sank into the sofa, and he disappeared for a few seconds to return with a bottle of champagne and two glasses.

  She smiled up at him. ‘It’s a good job I’m staying over, isn’t it?’

  *****

  Jenny rang Anna’s landline, keen to check that she had got home safely following her cautionary words of earlier. It wasn’t like Anna to think like that, and it had gnawed at Jenny until she gave in and rang to check. There was no answer so she rang her mobile.

  Anna answered almost immediately. ‘Jenny?’

  ‘Hi, Anna. Just wanted to check you’d got home safely and to thank you for coming. The children have loved having you here. I tried your landline, but...’

  There was a moment’s pause. ‘Oh, sorry, I didn’t quite manage to get to it.’

  ‘Are you at home then?’

  ‘Yes, of course. Feeling a little silly with the mobile phone in one hand and the landline phone in the other,’ she said with a laugh. ‘I’m fine, Jenny, really. Nice easy journey home.’

  ‘You didn’t have problems at the bridge then, with the accident?’

  ‘Er...no. Soon got around it.’

  ‘Okay, as long as you’re safe. See you next week?’

  ‘D
efinitely. I need to get to know Adam and Grace much better.’

  ‘Bye, Anna.’

  ‘Bye, Jenny.’

  Jenny disconnected, and immediately rang Anna’s landline. There was no answer despite letting it ring for a while.

  She tapped her forehead with her phone and wondered just where her mother-in-law was, because she sure as hell wasn’t at home in Sheffield.

  Anna rolled over and snuggled into the welcoming arms of Michael. ‘Sorry about that. It was Jenny, just checking I got home safely. She doesn’t suspect I’m not in Sheffield.’

  Chapter 36

  That same night, Caroline made her decision. She would take her chances, and she agreed to the transfer to France. Luc had been part of her life since just before Ray’s death and hadn’t walked away, unable to cope with her grief. He’d been there for her.

  They had talked constantly about whether she should commit; to the job and to him. In the end, Caroline committed to both and immediately felt better. The stress had gone, and her decision was welcomed by everyone it touched.

  She tried ringing Anna, but couldn’t get her on the landline, so she rang her mobile phone instead. She couldn’t reach her on that either. She smiled as she thought it was just like that after Anna had walked out on Ray; no communication. She left a voicemail saying, ‘Mum, I’m bringing Luc to meet you on Saturday,’ and rang off.

  Caroline knew that would throw her mother into a minor panic and sat back and waited for the phone call to be returned. Anna had put her phone on silent, and knew nothing of this second call of the night until the following morning.

  She rang Caroline as soon as she realised she had missed her call, but this time, it was Caro who didn’t reply. She was in a meeting, ironing out her responsibilities and other details for the new job, due to start the following week, in Paris.

  Saturday arrived, and so did Caroline and Luc. He was tall; his dark curly hair just a trifle too fashionably long, combined with sparkling blue eyes, told Anna exactly why Caroline had been attracted to him.

  However, he clearly cared for her, those same sparkling eyes following her every movement with love, or something very close to it. It put Anna’s mind at ease; she could trust this man with her daughter in a country where the language would always be her second one.

  They went out for lunch, and during the afternoon, Anna took her leave of them. Caro promised to be in constant touch; she was moving to France the following day, although not to live with Luc. Initially, she would be in an hotel until she found her permanent residency.

  Anna waved them off and returned to her apartment. Her phone rang as she was going through the door, and she hurried to answer it. It was rare for the landline to be in use, and she picked it up expecting it to be a sales call. It was DI Gainsborough.

  After the initial polite chat, he said he merely wanted to fill her in on the investigation so far, and he would like to see her in person.

  ‘I’m in Lincoln on Wednesday,’ Anna said, ‘if that’s of any use to you?’ She felt cold. She had heard nothing for weeks, so why now?

  ‘That will be fine. Are you going to Lindum Lodge?’

  ‘Yes. While the children are on school holidays, I go over once a week to see them. Will it take long?’

  ‘No. What time do you get there?’

  ‘I can be there for nine.’

  ‘Nine o’clock it is, then. That will leave you a full day with the children. See you Wednesday, Anna.’

  Shivering, she replaced the receiver and went out on to the balcony. There was a gentle breeze, a warm breeze, but it didn’t help the chill Anna felt running through her body. What did they know? Why did he want to see her now?

  She went into the bedroom and opened the wardrobe. The envelope was still there, as she had known it would be; she simply needed the reassurance of seeing it. It would be the first thing to be removed when the new apartment was officially hers. The safe would be a godsend.

  She phoned Jenny later and explained she would be arriving early on Wednesday morning, as Gainsborough wanted to speak with her. There was a moment of silence.

  ‘Did he say why?’

  ‘No, nothing other than he wanted to give me an update.’

  ‘Do you need me there?’

  ‘Yes, if you want to be there, no, if you don’t. Your decision, Jenny.’

  ‘I’ll be there. The children can either go in the garden or up to their rooms. I need to know what they know.’

  ‘Okay. And I’m going to get rid of the mobile phone now. I’d forgotten about it until I went into the wardrobe just now.’

  ‘Oh. I should have said. I got rid of mine as soon as I had...finished.’

  ‘Finished? That’s a strange way of describing what you did. See you Wednesday, Jenny.’ She replaced the receiver, and tried to calm the anger inside her. The small mobile phone was on the work surface, so Anna placed it on the floor and hit it with the small hammer she kept in the kitchen. She dropped the destroyed instrument into the waste bin and carried the sealed bag down to the bin room underneath the apartment block.

  Michael arrived later and stayed until she returned to Lincoln on Wednesday morning. They both left at 7.30am, and Anna arrived at Lindum Lodge with ten minutes to spare. The days and nights spent with Michael were having a calming effect on her, and she hoped Gainsborough’s visit wasn’t going to upset the equilibrium.

  It was a lovely sunny morning, and the children were both out in the garden. Jenny had explained to them that the police were coming over, and had to stay in the garden unless an emergency cropped up. They nodded solemnly and went outside where she could hear them actually getting on with each other, chatting happily about football.

  Gainsborough arrived promptly, and they sat around the kitchen table, drinking the coffee Jenny had waiting for his arrival.

  ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘I just want you to hear of any developments from the Crimewatch broadcast and see if you have any questions I can answer. I won’t be able to answer everything, obviously, but if I can tell you something, I will.’

  They both nodded. Anna couldn’t help but notice the pallor on Jenny’s face.

  ‘The only lead we picked up from the programme was one report of someone walking up to a car into the car park by the children’s playground, and the driver changing their clothing before getting into the car. There is no proof this person is connected to the crimes, and we’re probably clutching at straws, but it is one tiny snippet of information. A lady up at the time feeding her baby was getting him back to sleep, and happened to look out of her window and saw it. She didn’t know if it was a woman or a small man. She had no idea what car it was, couldn’t even tell the colour because it was under orange lights. She did show us where she saw it, but a fingertip search has revealed nothing.’

  Anna felt a tear roll down her face. She couldn’t imagine how Jenny must be feeling; Anna herself felt dreadful.

  ‘And that was it. Nobody saw anything, heard anything, remembered any sounds out of the ordinary; we are no further on than we were back in May. It seems the perpetrator has given up, which makes me think...’

  ‘Think what?’

  ‘Well...’ He looked uncomfortable. ‘This is just me talking. I just wonder if one of these three was the real target and the other two were incidental.’

  Anna let out a small cry, and Gainsborough leaned across and touched her hand. ‘I’m sorry, Anna, that’s me talking out of turn. There could be all sorts of reasons why the murders have stopped – he could be in prison, ill, out of the country; and I need to stop saying “he.” It could just as easily be a woman.’

  Anna looked horrified. ‘A woman? Would a woman have the strength to kill two men on the same night?’

  ‘Definitely. One was absolutely dead to the world anyway with alcohol, and the other was an old man without the physical strength to fight back. Just because this type of random crime is normally committed by a man doesn’t mean it was in this case.’

&nbs
p; Jenny said nothing. She stood and moved around the table to stand behind Anna, placing her hands on Anna’s shoulders, bending down to kiss the top of her head. She couldn’t speak.

  Gainsborough stood and drained the last of his coffee.

  ‘And that’s it for the moment. We’re scaling down the investigation slightly, but trust me, it’s not being shelved. We have three grieving families all wanting answers we can’t give them yet, but we will one day. I have given the other families the same information I have passed on to you. If anything else crops up, I’ll be in touch.’

  Jenny walked him to the front door and watched as he drove out of the new parking area. He had parked directly over the spot where she had killed Ray.

  Chapter 37

  Anna stayed overnight at Michael’s again, after leaving Jenny’s. She didn’t want to go without seeing Mark, so had agreed to eat dinner with them before heading off back to Sheffield. A quick text to Michael let him know of her plans, and he was opening his front door as she pulled on to his driveway.

  The journey over to Michael’s home had been uneventful, and Anna had gone over again the assorted conversations she had had during the day with Jenny. They had been interspersed with helping with the fairy garden and a game of football with Adam, but it was becoming clear Jenny was fragile.

  Anna had suggested they take a holiday; she would come over and run the business for them for a couple of weeks. Jenny declined.

  ‘I don’t want to inflict this house on you,’ she said. ‘And the conversion of the garage we’re having done, to give you your own space so you can come visit us, is nowhere near ready. I can’t do it to you, Anna.’

  ‘Then go to the doctor. Explain you’re feeling on edge. He’ll be able to prescribe something.’

  ‘I already have. Please don’t tell Mark. I’ve been taking the pills for a week now, but the doctor said it would be at least a fortnight before I felt any sort of difference. I’ll be fine, Anna. Stop worrying.’

  Anna was worried. She also knew there was nothing she could do. As soon as the granny flat was finished, she would insist they go away; there would be no excuses then.